tv licence help

j_davies

mdb99jh wrote:

I fail to see what you are basing your whole "institutions=bad" theory on, maybe someone mentioned it at the pub and you thought you would regurgitate it here to try and sound clever, without actually knowing what you were saying lol!

No I didnt hear it in a pub, I found my own two feet and managed to stand on them unlike some people who do what they are told as they dont have the spine to question the old outdated ways, LOL

kittiwoz

I have heard and read various views on the subject and the information in that article is not new to me. They say:

If you have a television that is not used for receiving broadcast programmes (e.g. using to watch DVDs or videos, or play games only) then it does not require a licence. TVL asks you to inform them of this, but it is obviously not a legal requirement to do so and they will still ask to inspect it. In these cases, it is best to have no aerial installed and to ensure that the TV is completely detuned, that is that no picture can be seen to any degree on any channel, so that you can confirm this status if asked.

So that confirms we do not need a licence. It is best to have no aerial installed and the TV detuned but it is not necessary.

We have an aerial and aerial points since it would hardly be reasonable to ask the landlord to remove them but our TV is detuned and is not connected to the aerial. You still get letters telling you to buy a license and you can still get a visit from the licensing authorities (just as if you don't have a TV at all) and it is suggested your TV should be detuned and you should have no aerial so if you do get a visit they don't think you're lying. However you could still tune the TV and plug the aerial in when you want to watch it and for this reason I have heard people say that you still need a license even in that case, unless you have the signal receiving circuits removed. This sort of stuff is not true and it is just the type of thing that younger students living away from home for the first time are likely to fall for. If you watch TV you should get a licence. If you don't watch TV you don't need one.

I sifted a lot of "various views" to make sure I was correct in thinking we could use the TV as a monitor but the requirements for TV licensing provided by the TV licensing authorities are unambiguous and those views which are contradictory to that are, in point of fact, wrong.

Oldernotwiser

I think that you're probably right about this and have obviously done your research. But we agree that there are different views on this, which was what I said.

kittiwoz

True, and I don't mean to be having a go, but I don't want anyone reading this thread who uses a TV purely as a monitor to think that they have to get a TV license when they don't. I posted the initial clarification because I know that there is a lot of confusing information out there and someone could easily end up shelling out for a licence they don't need for a service they don't use which isn't very money saving.

Loster

To quote you from a thread of mine, Oldernotwiser:

Stop looking down on the people you work with; most of us are just trying to get through life as best we can. A little humanity and humility go a long way.

cutesee

this post is quickly changing my view of this site.i put the first post up because someone dear to me was having a problem and instead of give advice (though some of you have) the rest have condemed him and you know nothing of his background to do that, maybe you are all perfect but its a tv licence that hasn't been paid not a contract on someones life that hasn't. I know it's easy to judge, think it's time to try not to.

Lakelady_2

I`m sorry to hear about your B/F situation - hope it all gets resolved painlessly.
The TV licensing folk were all over DD halls of residence and did try to gain access to her room. It isn`t easy for students I feel they should be treated sympathetically.

melancholly

cutesee wrote:

this post is quickly changing my view of this site.i put the first post up because someone dear to me was having a problem and instead of give advice (though some of you have) the rest have condemed him and you know nothing of his background to do that, maybe you are all perfect but its a tv licence that hasn't been paid not a contract on someones life that hasn't. I know it's easy to judge, think it's time to try not to.

don't get put off at all - and remember that it's often difficult to judge the tone of written comments - they can often be intended in one way and read in another one!

i think the main point is that there isn't an easy get out clause in your situation. whether the tv license is a fair price or whether your OH could/should have paid it are side issues. if you are struggling with finances then go onto the DFW board and post a SOA and get people to go through it. after being on here a while you change your view on what is an essential and what is a luxury!

Oompa_Loompa_2

cutesee wrote:

this post is quickly changing my view of this site.i put the first post up because someone dear to me was having a problem and instead of give advice (though some of you have) the rest have condemed him and you know nothing of his background to do that, maybe you are all perfect but its a tv licence that hasn't been paid not a contract on someones life that hasn't. I know it's easy to judge, think it's time to try not to.

Just ignore the simplistic "you should have paid it, tough you got caught out" posts. I'm sure you realise that now. And it's not much help being told what you did wrong, when it is too late to change that now. You posted on here asking what you should do NOW. Perhaps those wishing to tell you (your b/f) how naughty you were did not pick up on this fact. I am a student too, I received several letters from the TV licensing company which had roughly the same content but the last one I received had more of a serious tone than usual - stated I would probably be summoned to court. So I decided to pay the licence. I couldn't afford it, and because I was paying at such a late stage for the year (they will backdate payments until September) I was not able to pay £11 monthly. I had to pay £68 then 2 payments of roughly £30 (can't remember exact amounts). I would suggest your b/f pays for a licence ASAP and then fingers crossed the licensing authority will not take the matter further. He will no doubt have to pay up for the licence sooner or later anyway, so it would be better to do this now so he will have less to pay later if he does get fined, and although it is really late in the day to pay for the license, at least it will not do your case any harm if/when it goes to court.

Hope it works out all right.

drtesseract

I'm also a student and can't afford to pay the TV licence, but we never really watch tv anyway, we just use it for the playstation, and we're only living at this address for 9 months and didn't think it was worth it.
Also, will it make any difference that we do have the NTL base tv package, as it was on a deal, which was cheaper than internet by itself?
We got a letter this morning saying 'we have authorised officers from our enforcement division to visit your home and interview you under caution', should i be worried about this?
If we refuse to let the 'enforcement officer' into the house, and say 'no comment' or 'i don't need one, i dont have a TV', what do you think will happen? (we live on the first floor so they can't see a tv).
We only live here for a few more months and really can't afford to fork out for something we don't use. I assume they need a warrant to enter the house?
Anyone have any experience with what happens when you have 'no comment'. Thanks in advance
Brian